Most Americans—87%— recognize that access to the arts is important to quality of life. Furthermore, 63% say that arts experiences are uplifting, and 73% think the arts contribute something positive to the world ( Americans for the Arts). Because of these beliefs, there is a desire within KY to increase the amount of arts education opportunities available to all of its citizens. I was asked on behalf of Kentucky Association of Family and Consumer Sciences to come to their Fall Professional Development workshop and lead an arts program for all of those in attendance. 

At this Fall Professional Development Workshop, l delivered my leaf printing program to a group of 25 FCS extension agents, educators, students and other professionals that work within KY. In this program, I demonstrated how to incorporate nature and the outdoors with an art activity, where we used found leaves to create art prints on napkins. I helped participants choose color palettes and determine how to create a composition, then "ink up" their leaves with paint and press them into the surface of the cloth, resulting in the prints. As a result, participants took home finished leaf print napkins, and could use this idea for future programming of their own. 

One participant immediately took the idea and offered this program to her group of middle school disabled students, with great results pictured below. By providing this program, I was able to reach my immediate audience of FCS professionals, as well as a second-hand audience of disabled students who benefitted greatly from arts and nature engagement.